So, you might remember our friends the Gallmans (and specifically Jason) are walking a very difficult road. Their oldest child, Claire is in the the 5th grade.
Let me preface this entire story by stating that Claire is one of the most gifted children I've ever met. She is both intelligent and wise beyond her years. As a preschooler she was reading on a 3rd grade level and as a kindergartener on the 8th grade level. Now as a 5th grader, I'm sure she could read laps around me. Anyway, this week Claire was in the county spelling bee. She ended up coming in 7th place despite of her huge vocabulary.
The irony of the word she went out on continues to tickle me and give me goose bumps at the same time. And as Brian said, "Holy sermon analogy, Batman." So, here's the word that this young girl whose father was diagnosed with a fist sized tumor in his small bowel just two weeks ago missed - pessimist. Isn't that unreal? What a testament to Kim and Jason's fantastic child rearing skills. Of all people, Miss Claire could be a pessimist. But it's a word that's just not in her vocabulary.
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3 comments:
I'm working on how to tell you to put a picture in your banner - it is best emailed, but I realized I don't have a recent one. Can you send it to me at RDuncanGerding@aol.com.
hi cherie,
joel's sister here. felt compelled to say that that story is amazing. i TA for a stress management course and we talk about the role of optimism and positive reappraisal... i may just have to use that story some day. =)
thanks for sharing.
hi jen. nice to "meet" you. I thought it was fantastic, too. the family was almost in a state of joy when she missed it - the entire crowd thought they were freaks b/c they cheered when their daughter misspelled the word. :) Feel free to use the story!
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